BUSINESS is booming for a barber who is now launching his own range of beard and hair products.

Craig Evans, a former guitarist for the Dead Jerichos, is in charge at Youngmans Oxford.

The shop has been a barbers in the High Street since 1932 but Mr Evans and his team make sure it’s no longer just short back and sides on offer for customers.

Men’s grooming products are a growth market and Mr Evans, 26, is making sure customers can benefit from the products.

His latest innovation is a new range of beard and hair products.

Mr Evans, a former pupil of St Birinus School in Didcot, styled the hair of actors and musicians including Damian Lewis, Coldplay and the Kaiser Chiefs when he worked in London salons and won praise from GQ magazine.

Now he is making sure Youngmans Oxford, in a Grade II listed building owned by The Queen’s College, offers the most up-to-date service.

Mr Evans, who previously worked for one of London’s top men’s grooming brands Murdock London, said: “We took over two years ago and rebranded and it has been going very well - it’s great that we are able to sell customers our own products.

“We get people walking in and we also take appointments - our hair cut, shave and facial costs £33.

“Beards are very much in fashion at the moment and we are doing a lot of beard trims.

“Beards have really taken off in the past five years but I can’t really grow one - it’s more like stubble so I could never enter a beard competition.”

Mr Evans said men’s grooming products were selling well as men are ‘paying much more attention to detail’ than they used to.

For the wetshave and facial staff clean the customer’s face using a facial scrub, add essential oils to the skin to clean up the pores, and moisturise.

They then use a cold towel at the end to cool down the skin and close the pores.

Staff at Youngmans Oxford are pleased the business is flourishing at a time when some high street shops are struggling due to high rents and online competition.

Mr Evans works with fellow barbers Allan Smith and Roger Howard.

Mr Smith has worked in the shop for over 11 years after living in Spain for five years. He has built a very loyal clientele and is a beard specialist.

Mr Howard has seen trends in hairdressing come and go over the years as he has worked in the shop since the 1970s and has over 50 years of experience.

He works Monday to Thursday and is a regular at Oxford United home games.

The new product range is on sale in good time to catch the Christmas market.

Youngmans Oxford’s latest products are available online, including a shampoo and conditioner set costing £20 and a classic shaving set costing £25.50.

Visit youngmansoxford.co.uk